An intellectual disability is defined as “significantly below average general intellectual and adaptive functioning manifested during the developmental period, with significant delays in academic skills. Developmental period refers to birth to eighteen (18) years of age” (Florida Department of Education, 2011, pages 249-250).
Students with intellectual disability make up about 8% of the K-12 students with disabilities in Florida. Majority of these individuals remain actively involved in their community though work, community activities, and independent living. Most students with intellectual disabilities are expected to complete general requirements of graduation, but a small percentage with significant disabilities will complete alternative graduation requirements.
IQ or intellectual functioning refers to the ability of a person’s brain to learn, think, solve problems, and make sense of the world.
Adaptive behavior or adaptive functioning identifies whether the person has the skills he or she needs to live independently.
The most common causes of intellectual disorders include genetic conditions, problems during pregnancy, problems at birth, and health problems.
An intellectual disability:
occurs in the developmental period and characterised by sub-average intellectual functioning
presents an IQ that is assessed as 70 or under
marked by deficits in at least 2 areas of adaptive behavior, i.e., communication, self care, home living, social skills, self direction, leisure and work, and learning.
(The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-V])
Clinical Term
IQ
Percentage
Mild
50-70
85
Moderate
35-50
10
Severe
20-35
3-4
Profound
below 20
1-2
Adaptive skills are often a challenge when:
communicating with others
taking care of personal needs (dressing, bathing, bathroom)
health and safety
home living (help set the table, clean the house, or cooking)
social skills (manners, knowing the rules of conversation, getting along in a group, playing a game)
reading, writing, and basic math
they get older as they will need skills that will help them in the workplace.
What is an Intellectual Disability
Produced by the Bethesda Institute Assistive Technology Identification for Students with Intellectual Disabilities The need for assistive technology is specific to the individual. The student's identified level of functioning may require significant education adjustments to provide engagement opportunities and educational experiences. Some students may have deficits in all areas, requiring a number of tools and technology to help them learn. Others may be higher functioning and require less support to experience success. By law, assistive technology must be considered for all students with an IEP.
Some ways assistive technology may help individuals with intellectual disabilities -
Help organize writing letters and other written materials with graphic organizers and writing guides.
Support budgeting and math calculation with calculators and charts.
Increase participation in school and community activities with task outlines.
Increase communication with response guides and communication devices.
Support appropriate social skills with just-in-time social stories and behavior guides.
Support memory with activity planners, talking schedulers, or digital recorders.
IntelliTools Product Demos IntelliTools IntelliTools, Inc. is a company that creates products to teach reading, writing, and mathematics to students who need instructional support. http://www.intellitools.com/special/demo/control.html
Think College! College Options for People with Intellectual Disabilities Institute for Community Inclusion University of Massachusetts Boston http://www.thinkcollege.net/
Disclaimer: Content referencing various software, products, devices, websites, organizations and businesses, both non- and for-profit, may be found on several pages of this wiki. Be advised that FDLRS Gulfcoast does not recommend any particular entity, nor should inclusion of any software, product, device, website, organization, business, or other entity be viewed as a commercial endorsement by FDLRS Gulfcoast, the FDLRS Project Network, or Pinellas County Schools. Information included on this site is for informational and educational purposes only.
Intellectual Function
An intellectual disability is defined as “significantly below average general intellectual and adaptive functioning manifested during the developmental period, with significant delays in academic skills. Developmental period refers to birth to eighteen (18) years of age” (Florida Department of Education, 2011, pages 249-250).
Students with intellectual disability make up about 8% of the K-12 students with disabilities in Florida. Majority of these individuals remain actively involved in their community though work, community activities, and independent living. Most students with intellectual disabilities are expected to complete general requirements of graduation, but a small percentage with significant disabilities will complete alternative graduation requirements.
The most common causes of intellectual disorders include genetic conditions, problems during pregnancy, problems at birth, and health problems.
An intellectual disability:
- occurs in the developmental period and characterised by sub-average intellectual functioning
- presents an IQ that is assessed as 70 or under
- marked by deficits in at least 2 areas of adaptive behavior, i.e., communication, self care, home living, social skills, self direction, leisure and work, and learning.
(The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-V])Adaptive skills are often a challenge when:
What is an Intellectual Disability
Produced by the Bethesda Institute
Assistive Technology Identification for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
The need for assistive technology is specific to the individual. The student's identified level of functioning may require significant education adjustments to provide engagement opportunities and educational experiences. Some students may have deficits in all areas, requiring a number of tools and technology to help them learn. Others may be higher functioning and require less support to experience success. By law, assistive technology must be considered for all students with an IEP.
Some ways assistive technology may help individuals with intellectual disabilities -
Matthew's Story
Intellectual Disability Fact Sheet
Department of Health and Human Service
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/pdf/parents_pdfs/IntellectualDisability.pdf
Ablenet is one of many companies that produces and sells a variety of assistive technologies. Explore the options in the Learning Technology section.
Learning Technology: Connections Strategies
http://www.ablenetinc.com/Assistive-Technology/Learning-Technology
Accessible Book Collection: Providing Digital Text to Persons with Disabilities
http://accessiblebookcollection.org/Default.htm
The Center on Technology and Disability
http://www.ctdinstitute.org/
101 Ways to Use a Sequential Message AAC Device to Access the Curriculum
Spectronics
http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/article/101-ways-to-use-a-sequential-message-aac-device-to-access-the-curriculum-3
IntelliTools Product Demos
IntelliTools
IntelliTools, Inc. is a company that creates products to teach reading, writing, and mathematics to students who need instructional support.
http://www.intellitools.com/special/demo/control.html
Florida Consortium on Postsecondary Education and Intellectual Disabilities
http://www.fltpsid.info/files/FLTPSIDBrochureL.pdf
Attainment Company -Serving People with Disabilities
http://www.attainmentcompany.com
AbleData—National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
http://www.abledata.com
National Down Syndrome Congress
http://www.ndsccenter.org/
Think College! College Options for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Institute for Community Inclusion
University of Massachusetts Boston
http://www.thinkcollege.net/
Every Move Counts, Clicks and Chats
http://www.everymovecounts.net/
The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps (TASH)
http://tash.org
Disclaimer: Content referencing various software, products, devices, websites, organizations and businesses, both non- and for-profit, may be found on several pages of this wiki. Be advised that FDLRS Gulfcoast does not recommend any particular entity, nor should inclusion of any software, product, device, website, organization, business, or other entity be viewed as a commercial endorsement by FDLRS Gulfcoast, the FDLRS Project Network, or Pinellas County Schools. Information included on this site is for informational and educational purposes only.